Charitable Fund Set Up For Injured Simsbury Firefighters

SIMSBURY, CT — A charitable fund has been established to assist two Simsbury firefighters who were injured in the crash of a vintage World War II bomber which crashed shortly after takeoff from Bradley International Airport earlier this month.

The Oct. 2 crash involved a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber which had been part of a vintage aircraft exhibition at the airport. Two crew members and five passengers were killed, while seven other people, including an airport worker on the ground, were injured, many of them seriously.

Among the injured were Simsbury firefighters Jim Traficante, a member of the Firetown Station who is recuperating at home from his wounds, and JT Huber, a member of Tariffville Station, who remains in the Connecticut Burn Center at Bridgeport Hospital with severe burns which will result in an extensive stay and long recovery ahead, according to a Facebook post from the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company.

The post reads, "Over the last few weeks, there has been an outpouring of community support and requests to help. The SVFC has established a fund to assist our firefighters and their families with any needs as they recover."

Checks payable to Simsbury Firefighters Charitable Fund may be mailed to Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company, Attn: Simsbury Firefighters Charitable Fund, 871 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, CT 06070. Liberty Bank will also be accepting donations at Liberty Bank, Attn: Simsbury Firefighters Charitable Fund, 981 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, CT 06070. Donations may be also made via PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr…